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Going Solo: Matthew Lai
Jul 21 2012Congratulations to Matthew Lai who soloed Citabria N990WY!! Well done to both Matthew and his CFI team of Dave Gray, Erik Schmidt, Sergey Sinyachkin, and Rich Digrazzi!
CFI Dave Gray, Matthew Lai, and CFI Erik Schmidt
N88353 to KOSH Day 1
Jul 20 2012Preflghted at 0700 to avoid winds/turbulence over the mountains. Oops…Flat tire. Fixed the valve stem and got off the ground at the crack of 1030.
Over the Sierras via Donner Pass in glass smooth air at 12500. I know… wrong altitude… but as high as we could get before descending into Reno Stead field. Winds 15 gusting 28. 
Jets at Stead
Chris at Stead
Tower at Stead
Off Stead at 1330 for Wendover, UT (KENV). Bounced across the desert at 11500 in continuous mountain turbulence. Popcorn Cumulus building up ahead. Landed early at Elko, NV to avoid T-storms near Wendover. 
Over Winnemucca, NV
On the ramp at Elko, NV (dust devils in the background)
Super nice FBO at Elko gave us $.60 per gallon discount on fuel because we were enroute to KOSH.Dinner at The Star Hotel. If you ever find yourself in Elko, stop here! Great, homey Basque restaurant with amazingly good food.
The Star Bar
Chris at The Star
Plan to depart Elko at 0 dark thirty tomorrow morning enroute to Grand Island, NE. Maybe even further.
Going Solo: Michael Busch
Jul 09 2012Congratulations to Michael Busch who soloed Citabria N9091L. Well done Michael and his CFI Erik Schmidt!
CFI Erik Schmidt and Michael Busch
Going Solo: Ahrash Aleshi
Jun 23 2012Congratulations to Ahrash Aleshi who soloed Citabria N1806G! Well done Ahrash and CFI Erik Schmidt!
CFI Erik Schmidt and Ahrash Aleshi
Going Solo: Paul Huckaby
Jun 17 2012
Paul and CFI Erik
A new fledgling flies the coop in a Citabria! Congratulations to Paul Huckaby who flew his first solo under CFI Erik Schmidt’s anxious supervision. Paul and Citabria 9091L made three safe takeoffs and landings.
Well done Paul and CFI Erik Schmidt.
New Private Pilot: William Lo
Jun 11 2012Another new pilot certificate earned! Congratulations to William Lo who aced his Private Pilot checkride today with Examiner Sherry Diamond in Citabria 1806G.
William and Examiner
Well done to William and his CFI Jim Grant.
News: Cessna 170 is returning to the line
Jun 03 2012Our Cessna 170, N8245A is back on line. All shiny and pretty after her wing repairs.
N8245A Taking Off
She is a 1952 Cessna 170B, with four seats and four place intercom, and a nice new interior. She has long range tanks and her 145hp six cylinder Continental engine can keep her in the air longer than most people’s bladders can last.
Where elase can you fly a piece of aviation history from the golden age or taildraggers? She even featured in the French press!
Fly her, so we can keep her owner happy that he put her on leasback with us.
New Private Pilot: Inga Huang
May 11 2012Congratulations to Inga Huang who passed her checkride and earned her Private Pilot certificate with Examiner Sherry Diamond. Way to go!! Good work Inga and CFI Mark Guerrero.
New Private Pilot Inga Huang and Examiner Sherry Diamond
Going Solo: Tom Besemer
May 11 2012Congratulations to Tom Besemer who soloed Citabria N9091L. Way to go Tom! Congrats to him and his CFI Jim Grant.
Tom Besemer and CFI Jim Grant
New Private Pilot: Hrishikesh Mehendale
May 08 2012Congratulations to Hrishikesh Mehendale for passing his Private Pilot checkride with Examiner Sherry Diamond. Well done to Hrishikesh and his instructor Jim Grant!
Hrishikesh Mehendale and Examiner Sherry Diamond